Less waste is more
For the last week I have been trying to see how much waste I make and how I can reduce it.
Day 1: Trash made: Tin foil from a burrito 1x box of cheez-its 3x wrappers from cookies (Chips-ahoy 2x and Oreos 1x) 1x box of instant oatmeal and 2x packs of oatmeal Thoughts of experiment: So far not much trash has been made, and since the largest pieces of trash (Boxes) is recyclable, there seems to be even less trash. The wrappers from the cookies include the outside wrapper and the paper support from inside the wrapper.
Day 2: Trash made: 1x square of paper towel 3x wrappers of mixed fruit fruit snacks 1x foam cup used for coffee 1x soda can from ginger ale Thoughts of experiment: I should probably hold onto my trash to help me realize how much trash I make, what trash I have made in the day and how much space the trash takes up. I haven't made much trash in the last two days but maybe because I haven't been going to many places that produce trash
Day 3: Trash made: 1X tea bag + 1x paper wrapper from bag 1x wrapper from a Gatorade 1x Styrofoam container from 1 dozen eggs 1x packaging for mechanical pencils (paper mate 0.7mm sharp writer pack of 6) Thoughts of experiment: I have been keeping the trash through out the day in the cheez-it box from earlier (I had it in the recycle bin at the time). Still not much trash - I am able to fit the trash in my hand when crushed together.
Day 4: Trash made: 1x pudding cup 1x Paper towel 1x Wrapper from Chips-ahoy cookies 1x backing to scotch tape 1x box from a personal pan pizza from pizza hut 1x Pepsi cup from Sodexo Thoughts of experiment: The trash from the day could all be put inside of the pudding cup . Again not much trash in the experiment has been made so far and all collected trash has been able to fit inside of the chees-it box. I am beginning to see how much trash I make as the cheez-it box is getting fairly full maybe with enough room for one more day. Instead of using paper towels I have used a hand towel that I can wash later.
Day 5: Trash made:1x bag from bagels 1x teabag with the paper wrapper 1x container from microwave macaroni and cheese 1x Pepsi cup from Sodexo 1x wrapper from a 6 inch subway sandwich Thoughts of experiment: Trash can no longer fit in the cheez-it box and a paper towel was used to clean up some spilt egg and excessive grease from breakfast (I made a bagel sandwich with a sausage patty, eggs and cheese.
Day 6: Trash made: 1x regular bowl from Flame Broiler 1x plastic fork ^^^ I forgot to hold on to these pieces of trash^^^ 1x wrapper for Chips-ahoy cookies 1x wrapper from fruit snacks 1x paper box from an elastic bandage 1x cardboard support for a thermal undershirt and the paper packaging 1x gum wrapper from a stick of gum and the packaging (Packaging thrown away by roommate who I shared the gum with) 1x 3/4 sheet paper used to print a picture that took up around 1/6-1/4 of the page Thoughts of experiment: This obviously does not seem to be much trash but as I now look at the amount of trash from the last 4 days, I am beginning to see that the amount of trash I make could accumulate to a substantial amount over an extended span of time. In order to reduce the amount of waste I make I will be buying more in bulk, using more of my own reusable containers.
Day 7: Trash made: 1x paper wrapper for wood chopsticks 2x wood chopsticks 1x plastic bowl from Sodexo ^^^ Forgot to keep as I was in the union and did as I would normally do after I finish eating in the union^^^^^^^^^^ 1x wrapper from fruit snacks Thoughts of experiment: I have made quite a bit of trash and have been able to place all of the recyclable waste into the cheez-it and the non-recyclable trash was able to be fit in the bag from the bagels.
Thoughts of the experiment: This experiment as helped me understand how much trash I make over time and in which ways I can produce less waste. I am going to try to eat more foods with less waste, such as those a person can by in bulk. Less pre-packaged foods will produce less waste and will likely be healthier option then canned or premade food.
^^^ The trash collected from the experiment ^^^
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